[sonic909]

Hey people!

First up, what an amazing forum you have here, covered it all, and you seem to have a great community! somebody has done a good job, and no doubt put alot of effort in!

I am able bodied, and dont want to offend any one with my stupid questions, so please take it all with a pinch of salt.

Over the last few months i have been on a complete weight loss/get fit/bulk up mission, and i am addicted to healthy eating and excersise.

I have been cycling to work and my legs are very toned, however my upper body is just not... i have tried a few sports and weights/rowing but nothing really clicks with me, but i love cycling!

I i have a friend who is disabled and hes well into wheelchair racing, his upper body is absolutly amazing, he trains hard and it shows, his arms, chest and back are ripped! and to say i am jealous of it is an understatement... so it set me thinking...
I have been saving for a new bike, got a few pennies together for a good MTB, but what if i scrapped that and got a racechair?!

I am near a track here so i could do some wheelchair training/racing...?
I then thought after a bit of training i could perhaps bomb to work in a chair!?
Then i saw these handcycles... they look like a right laugh!

So my questions;


Can able bodied people compete?
Do these chairs have brakes?
What do you need to get started?... chair/gloves?!?
Does anyone ride on the road ever? (no different to a cycle surely!?)
Where can i get a decentish chair just to have a go?
Will i offend genuinly disabled people for getting into a chair?
How do you steer them?

Then theres handcycles...

Good workout?
Are they fast?
How do you steer and brake?
Use on road?


I'm really enthusiastic, it seems like fun, wind in your hair kinda thing!


Thanks for any input you might have!

[faithdude]

I guess yea..yer offensive...and yet...I can't help thinking...wow yer freaking cool ;) Yer both ;)

Wow~ I dunno~ go for it~ if it helps you be healthy and fit~ if ya can't get answers here~ contact yer nearest rehab hospital~ they'll help ya I'm sure ;)

I mean like why not? I mean, not only will it help ya~ ya can then know of it~ to tell others with disabilities of it~ and I mean like wow who knows maybe mainstream would dig it and it be future able-body sport~ or~ ya do it and find a way to modify sport to make it even *more* disability friendly ;)

Or ya dig it cause it's cool as is no more no less~ it makes ya happy~ as good enough amen~ no more needs said ;)

Be well,
Go for it,
Good luck,
Faithdude

[lune14]

All I have to add is ..... if you're going to roll to work down a busy street ... wear a flag and a helmet!! LOL

[Texaswheelz]

While I can't answer most of your questions since I have not done any racing I will say I think it is a great idea. I've had college football players marvel at how big my upper body is just from pushing my char and the 220+ lbs that sits in it around all day. My dad is a football coach and has actually thought of getting a few chairs for their off season weight lifting. Have the guys go do a couple of laps around the track in just a normal every day chair and they'll gain strenght in their shoulders, back and mostly tricepts and forearms.

Personally I encourage any AB out there that has a thought of giving a chair a try to buy one and go for it. Lets you see things from a different perspective. But I do seriously doubt that you would be able to enter any type of race against the disabled as a AB.

[sonic909]

i aint to bothered in competing, i would love to train tho... i prob would even if it was just one-to-one with my mate, altho he'd whoop ass!

i still really wanna have a go! seems like a good idea, cos i need transport to work, and i will reap the benefits!?

[Wheelie D]

Go for it, Ive got AB friends in canada around here who compete in marathons in race chairs, my best friend and I always tear up the hill in sit ski's together. If you offend somebody for riding in a so called "disabled sports" rig then thats their problem not yours.

[FOURCROSS]

Sonic,

Go for it!

If a sit down/wheelchair/adaptive/'disabled' sport looks like fun, its because it is!!!!!
The able bodied who see the sports as fun are on the right track.
More 'able bodied' in sit down sports!!!


R-ONE

[kabal]

i have a lot of the same questions you have

hav you already found some answers to your questions about the racing ? please let me know

heres a good link too
racing basics

[KimAndSophie]

If your ablebodied you can't compete in races. A racing chair has to fit you properly so you can use it without getting shoulder/wrist injuries. I'd suggest going to a gym and getting a trainer to teach you how to lift weights and work out the areas you want. It's a lot safer to have someone show you exactly how to dosomething than buying a chair that don't fit properly and injuring yourself. At least with weight lifting you can have someone teach you.



I've been racing with other wheelchair racers, and I know the half dozen people there were not too happy about someone who wanted to race who was able bodied. Aparently one of them read a similar message on a few yahoo groups. Of course I'm not saying this is everyone's opinion. but just the group I've met.

I might be stating the obvious here, but if your friend is into wheelchair racing, why not ask him to help you? He could probably show you some things and let you try his chair.

This post has been edited by ~lilnewfie~: 13 April 2007 - 02:35 AM

[rollingpix]

Quite a few of my friends use my extra chairs when we go out to the club, bar, park etc.... You should see 2 or three guys in chairs lined up for the bathroom! Besides which, it beats waiting in line.